Joe Barnett

This week we’re talking about words The tongue has the power of life and death.                       —Proverbs 18:21 The Lord hates . . . a lying tongue . . . a false witness who pours out lies, a person who sows discord among brothers (Prv […]

This week let’s talk about words Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak.     —James 1:19 Sometimes Roger seems obtuse, foggy. Actually, he’s razor-sharp. He just has a thoughtfully-reasoned response process: when asked a question he never allows his mouth to outrun his brain; never answers before thinking; always hits the pause

This, then, is how you should pray.                —Matthew 6:9 Proper prayer does not demand that our will be done, but asks that God’s will be done. It’s like the hook that an old salt uses to dock his boat. He doesn’t try to pull the dock to the

Have faith in God.    —Mark 11:22 Jesus prefaced his mountain-moving-prayer message with four words: “Have faith in God.” First, this means I must weigh my requests, aligning them with God’s will. Am I wanting something I shouldn’t want? Am I wanting to do something I shouldn’t do? Am I wanting to justify something I

If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.           —Matthew 21:22 “If anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes . . . it will be done” (Mk 11:23). This baffling sentence wasn’t as mystifying

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart.                  —Jeremiah 1:5 Are you being too hard on yourself? Or too easy? “I’m worthless. I can’t do anything right.” That’s being too hard on yourself. “I messed up. So

[B]y his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours.    —2 Thessalonians 1:11 How are you coming on those New Year’s Resolutions? The year is almost half gone, so this might be a good time for a checkup. Regina Brett made ten resolutions, printed each on an index card and tossed them into

And now what are you waiting for?                  —Acts 22:16 The late Paul Harvey spun a tale that ran something like this . . . Satan dispatched three of his minions to earth. Their assignment was to talk people out of giving their lives to God. He asked

I will hasten and not delay to obey your commands.     —Psalm 119:60 Satan sighs: “This one’s a tough customer. She’s doggedly determined to obey God. I don’t think I can win with her . . . unless . . . unless I can get her to put it off.” If Satan can’t get

He jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.   —Mark 10:50 As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (that is, the Son of Timaeus), was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout,